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Opposition leader: Serbia needs change for EU path; re-electing Vučić would be a 'leap into the abyss'
🇷🇸 Serbia /Elections & Politics

Opposition leader: Serbia needs change for EU path; re-electing Vučić would be a 'leap into the abyss'

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Zdravko Ponoš, leader of the Srbija Centar party, asserts that a change in government is essential for Serbia to advance on its European Union integration path.
  • He warned that re-electing Aleksandar Vučić, potentially as prime minister, would lead Serbia into a "leap into the abyss" and cause further delays.
  • Ponoš criticized the upcoming elections as irregular, citing alleged vote-buying through budget reallocations and a "dark media environment" dominated by a "functionary campaign."

Zdravko Ponoš, leader of the Srbija Centar (SRCE) party, has declared that a change in government is imperative for Serbia to bridge its developmental gap and progress toward European Union membership. He warned that failing to achieve this shift would result in Serbia taking a "leap into the abyss."

If that does not happen, Serbia will 'take a leap into the abyss' if Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is elected prime minister.

— Zdravko PonošCommenting on the consequences of not changing the government

Ponoš specifically cautioned against the potential re-election of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, particularly if Vučić were to assume the role of prime minister. He argued that such an outcome would severely hinder Serbia's trajectory, suggesting that the next viable opportunity for change might not arise for another two years through local elections, a timeline he deems too slow given the country's current situation.

The next opportunity is only some local elections in two years. Then it is a slower path with a series of bad consequences, and we no longer have time to lose.

— Zdravko PonošOn the urgency of political change in Serbia

The SRCE leader further criticized the electoral process, stating that Serbia has not had genuine elections for years. He anticipates the upcoming polls will be "irregular," occurring within a "dark media environment." Ponoš accused Vučić of using state budget funds, specifically half a billion euros from a recent reallocation, to finance a "brutal functionary campaign" aimed at securing votes, describing it as a direct purchase of electoral support.

Vučić has been spending budget funds for two months in a brutal functionary campaign for his prime ministerial post. Half a billion euros from the rebalance is injected into the campaign through one-time payments to pensioners and the poor. This is, in fact, buying votes.

— Zdravko PonošAccusing the government of vote-buying using budget funds

"We have a budget rebalance to buy elections," Ponoš stated, highlighting his belief that the government is manipulating financial resources to influence the election outcome. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, suggesting that Serbia has no more time to waste in pursuing its European aspirations.

We have a budget rebalance to buy elections

— Zdravko PonošOn the purpose of the recent budget reallocation
About this summary

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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